Proposed wildlife agency cuts worry sportsmen, paddlers

Fish hatchery, Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education could be impacted

Published: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 8:07 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 8:07 p.m.

Local sportsmen and paddlers are among those decrying a Senate budget that would slash state funding for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission nearly in half. The specter of cuts has stalled three local projects along the French Broad River.

The N.C. Senate’s budget chops its general fund appropriation to the wildlife agency by $9 million, a 49 percent reduction from this year’s allocation of $18.5 million. The threat of belt-tightening has forced the agency to put 120 projects on hold statewide until the Senate and House reconcile their budgets.

Those projects include three river access projects in Transylvania and Henderson counties, according to NCWRC Deputy Director Mallory Martin: a new boat ramp in Penrose and two fishing piers and paddler access points, one on Highway 64 in Horse Shoe and another at Highway 191 in Mills River.

“I don’t know exactly what their status is,” Martin said. “They may be in the design or permitting phases, but they’re on hold until we know what the final (budget) numbers are going to look like. Once we do, we’ll set our priorities and make adjustments. We’re hopeful for a favorable outcome.”

French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson said the stalled river access projects are a prime example of how Raleigh’s budget-cutting “hits home in the real world.”

“This is a good, well-run state agency that is getting their budget slashed, potentially, and won’t be able to provide the services that the public expects them to,” Carson said. “They do a lot of good stuff. A lot of people catch their fish and use their boat access points.”

Martin said other potential victims of a $9 million reduction in agency funds would include operations at the state’s six fish hatcheries, including the Bobby N. Setzer Fish Hatchery in Pisgah National Forest, and its four education centers, including the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education.

Additionally, roughly 40 percent of the funds in question go toward law enforcement, a fact that concerns David Whitmire, a Transylvania County landscaper and program chair of the N.C. Bowhunters Association.

“They’re already undermanned right now,” Whitmire said, referring to the area’s game wardens. “I just think it was a reckless approach to cut 50 percent of their budget. The Wildlife Resources Commission is one of the most self-efficient aspects of state government. It’s not been a money pit.”

The Senate’s halving of the agency’s general fund appropriation came as “a shock,” said Dick Hamilton, coordinator for the N.C. Wildlife Federation’s Camo Coalition, an outreach program for sportsmen. “It was done without consultation, and a lot of people have been working to get it restored.”

<p>Local sportsmen and paddlers are among those decrying a Senate budget that would slash state funding for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission nearly in half. The specter of cuts has stalled three local projects along the French Broad River.</p><p>The N.C. Senate's budget chops its general fund appropriation to the wildlife agency by $9 million, a 49 percent reduction from this year's allocation of $18.5 million. The threat of belt-tightening has forced the agency to put 120 projects on hold statewide until the Senate and House reconcile their budgets.</p><p>Those projects include three river access projects in Transylvania and Henderson counties, according to NCWRC Deputy Director Mallory Martin: a new boat ramp in Penrose and two fishing piers and paddler access points, one on Highway 64 in Horse Shoe and another at Highway 191 in Mills River. </p><p>“I don't know exactly what their status is,” Martin said. “They may be in the design or permitting phases, but they're on hold until we know what the final (budget) numbers are going to look like. Once we do, we'll set our priorities and make adjustments. We're hopeful for a favorable outcome.”</p><p>French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson said the stalled river access projects are a prime example of how Raleigh's budget-cutting “hits home in the real world.”</p><p>“This is a good, well-run state agency that is getting their budget slashed, potentially, and won't be able to provide the services that the public expects them to,” Carson said. “They do a lot of good stuff. A lot of people catch their fish and use their boat access points.”</p><p>Martin said other potential victims of a $9 million reduction in agency funds would include operations at the state's six fish hatcheries, including the Bobby N. Setzer Fish Hatchery in Pisgah National Forest, and its four education centers, including the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. </p><p>Additionally, roughly 40 percent of the funds in question go toward law enforcement, a fact that concerns David Whitmire, a Transylvania County landscaper and program chair of the N.C. Bowhunters Association.</p><p>“They're already undermanned right now,” Whitmire said, referring to the area's game wardens. “I just think it was a reckless approach to cut 50 percent of their budget. The Wildlife Resources Commission is one of the most self-efficient aspects of state government. It's not been a money pit.”</p><p>The Senate's halving of the agency's general fund appropriation came as “a shock,” said Dick Hamilton, coordinator for the N.C. Wildlife Federation's Camo Coalition, an outreach program for sportsmen. “It was done without consultation, and a lot of people have been working to get it restored.”</p><p>Hamilton said if the funds aren't revived, programs that could suffer might include boating access sites, public fishing areas, search-and-rescue operations, fish hatcheries, shooting ranges and environmental education programs. </p><p>The N.C. House's latest budget would only cut the agency by $4 million in 2013-14, Hamilton said, and proposes to give the NCWRC $16 million in general fund revenues in 2014-15. </p><p>He said the Camo Coalition generated more than 800 emails to legislators about the Senate cuts, arguing that wildlife-related pursuits generate $3.3 billion for the state's economy each year.</p><p>“We're hopeful that the final number will rest closer to the House recommendation,” Martin said.</p><p>Until the House and Senate agree, he said, projects like the local river accesses will remain in limbo. Martin expects a decision by the legislature could come before July 1.</p><p>“It's not over until it's over,” he said.</p><p>Reach Axtell at 828-694-7860 or than.axtell@blueridgenow.com.</p>